“No, I don’t want you to wait,” answered Bob Sutter.  “My cousin won’t be well, so they tell me, for several months, and I won’t want to go without her.  I’ve been thinking that you had better take the trip without us.  Captain Jerry can easily run the yacht with your aid.”

“That’s very kind of you,” said Tom.  “But we’d rather have you along.”

The matter was talked over for an hour.  The Rover boys knew that Dora, Nellie, and Grace would be sorely disappointed if the yacht trip was given up.  At last they decided to accept Bob Sutter’s kind suggestion and make the trip without the company of the young owner and his cousin; and then they withdrew, wishing Bob a speedy recovery.

CHAPTER V

ON BOARD OF THE YACHT

“What a glorious day for the trip!”

“We are going to turn real sailors, aren’t we?”

“Can’t I help pull up a sail or something, Tom?”

Such were the remarks of Dora, Nellie, and Grace as they boarded the Old Glory early on Monday morning.

The boys and Captain Jerry were there to receive them, having arrived an hour before, to see that all the provisions were stowed away, and that the craft was in prime condition for sailing.  By a curious combination of circumstances Bob Sutter had ordered far more provisions than were necessary for such a short trip, but Captain Jerry had found a place for everything, remarking that they might come in useful after all, but never dreaming how useful, as later events were to prove.

Mrs. Stanhope had come down in a carriage to see them off.  She kissed all of the girls an affectionate good-by.

“Have a good time,” she said.  “And be sure and come back safe and sound.”

“Don’t ye worry but what I’ll bring ’em back safe enough, ma’am,” said Captain Jerry, as he tipped his cap respectfully.

When the girls were safe on board, the boys waved an adieu to Mrs. Stanhope.  Then they ranged up in a row in front of old Jerry and each touched his forelock and gave a hitch to his trowser leg.

“Ready for orders, cap’n,” they said, in unison, having practiced this little by-play in secret.

“Wh—­what?” stammered Captain Jerry, gazing at them in bewilderment.

“Ready for orders, sir,” they said.

“Shall we shake out the mainsail?” asked Dick.

“Shall I hoist the jib?” came from Tom.

“Can I set the topsail, captain?” put in Sam.

“Well, by the son o’ Neptune!” gasped Captain Jerry.  “Got a real, generwine crew, aint I?  All right, my hearties, I’ll set ye to work fast enough.”  And then followed a string of orders in true nautical style, and the Rover boys flew in one direction and another to execute them.  Up went the mainsail and the jib, and the top-sail followed, and soon the Old Glory was standing off into Santa Barbara Channel, with Mrs. Stanhope in the carriage waving them an adieu, and the girls and the boys waving their handkerchiefs in return.